Child Life Internship Program
Spring: postmarked by September 5
Summer: postmarked by January 5
Fall: postmarked by May 5
- Advocating for Child Life services throughout the health care setting
- Assessing psychosocial and emotional needs of hospitalized children and providing therapeutic interventions to support those needs
- Family-centered care
- Preparation and support for medical procedures and tests
- Pre-operative teaching and tours
- Medical play
- Developmentally-supportive individual and group activities for patients
- Organization of special events and visitors
- Sibling preparation and support
- Trauma support to patients and families in the emergency department
Child Life Internship Qualifications
To be considered for a Child Life internship, applicants must have:
- Senior standing in an accredited college or university and have all coursework completed
- Major in child life, therapeutic recreation, child development or a related field
- Previous experience working with hospitalized children or children in a health care setting
- Previous experience working with children in a non-hospital setting
- Grade point average of 3.0 in core classes
Please note: Because we feel strongly that students receive a well-rounded education, we do not accept applications from students who have completed a practicum with our program.
Application Materials
- Letter of intent stating your objectives and goals
- Résumé
- Completed Child Life internship Application (pdf)
- Two letters of reference to the internship coordinator
- Official college/university transcript
- Copy of a coursework review from the Child Life Council
Mail all application materials by the deadline to:
AFCH Child Life Internship Program
Attn: Julie Auenson, CCLS
American Family Children's Hospital
1675 Highland Avenue
Madison, WI 53792-C175
Requirements
Upon acceptance of the internship, all interns are required to complete a criminal background check, pass a health screening, and provide proof of recent TB skin tests.